Coated weight plates, dumbbells and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a clear coating on a weight for a dumbbell, a dumbbell having weights having a clear coating, and the process for coating a weight on a dumbbell with a clear coating. The invention includes the painting or other coloration of the weights before placing the clear coating on the dumbbell. Also, the invention includes the use of decals on the weight before the clear coating is placed on the dumbbell. In addition, the invention is a method of advertising on a weight plate.

THIS APPLICATION CLAIMS PRIORITY TO PROVISIONAL PATENT-APPLICATIONSERIAL No. 60/449,886, FILED ON FEB. 25, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of weights and dumbbells.The invention especially relates to decoration and advertising placedupon a weight plate and the addition of an at least partially clearcoating to the weight.

2. Description of Related Art

In the prior art, logos were placed on dumbbells in a variety ofexpensive ways. Logos or advertising could not be placed on the weightsas decals, since the decals would be abused by the use of the exerciseequipment. Also, the decals would not stick to a preferred polyurethanecoating. In addition, if a manufacturer wanted to color the weightheads, or paint them, the coloring would be dirtied, faded or torn bythe use of the weights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In standard practice in the industry, the dumbbell is created with athin coating of black polyurethane on the weight plates. Next, a logo isapplied. Because of the “wax-paper” surface characteristics ofpolyurethane, it is difficult to place decals, silk-screening, paint orsimilar materials on the surface of the weight plates. Thus, a logocould only be placed on a weight head by having the logo in the mold orby having it machined or engraved on the plate.

It is known to inject or fill a void with white or colored urethane toform letters on a weight plate. However, in using this process, it isimportant to remove all mold release from the voids after each use.Otherwise, the colored letters will not adhere to the black urethane.Alternatively, a weight plate may be machined so-that a logo is in avoid. Then a different color urethane is injected or filled into thevoid to form a logo.

Also, in the industry it is known to simply machine a logo directly intothe weight plate using one or more steps of machining for each color ofurethane. This method is extremely expensive and time consuming.Furthermore, it is limiting in the amount of detail which may beincluded in a logo. Furthermore, it would be extremely difficult toapply the logo on the inside face of a weight plate on a dumbbell.

In addition, colored dumbbells with a polyurethane surface in the priorart are prohibitively expensive. Each time a colored dumbbell is desireda manufacturer would have to purge its injection machines and insert thedesired colors, consuming valuable manufacturing time.

It is the object of the present invention to make it possible to havedetailed, colorful logos on weight plates and dumbbells.

It is a further object of this invention to allow the inexpensiveproduction of colored dumbbells.

It is a further object of this invention to make colored dumbbells witha protective coating.

It is a further objective of this invention to have weight plates anddumbbells with decals that are permanently affixed, protected andvisible.

In accordance with these and other objectives which will be apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particularreference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a partof this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a cut away perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 1 a is a cut away perspective view of the preferred embodimenthaving a dark colored weight plate.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art invention and a typicalprior art logo for the prior art invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of alternative embodiments of the inventionnext to a prior art invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a clear coating on a weight on a dumbbell, adumbbell having weights having a clear coating, and the process forcoating a weight on a dumbbell with a clear coating. The inventionincludes the painting or other coloration of the weights on a dumbbellbefore placing the clear coating on the dumbbell. Also, the inventionincludes the use of decals on the weight before the clear coating isplaced on the dumbbell. In addition, the invention is a method ofadvertising on a weight plate.

In the preferred embodiment, a dumbbell of the preferred embodiment isshown in FIGS. 1 and 1 a at 10. The weight plate 12 is provided, and maybe colored in a preferred hue. The coloring is preferred to be a powdercoat or paint but may be some other agent known in the art. The paint ispreferably sprayed onto the plate 12. Optionally, the plate may becovered with a clear paint. In an alternative embodiment, a design orlogo is painted onto the weight plate itself. The weight plate ispreferred to be metal which has been forged, cast or machined. However,other manufacturing methods and appropriate materials may be used as isknown in the art. Also, it is preferred that the weight is in agenerally round shape as shown in FIGS. 1-6. A weight plate 12 is placedon either end of a handle 14. The handle may be of any useful shape andtexture, but the Tri-Bar handle used by TKO Sports, Inc. is preferred.The handle is preferably welded to the weight plates. However, it mayalso be threaded, pinned or press fit to the plates 12, or attached inother methods known in the art.

Then, if desired, one or more decals 16 are placed on the weight plate.It is preferred that the decals are on the far end 18 of the plate 12 soit can be viewed easily. However, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1 a, decals 16may also be placed on the inside surface 20 or on the perimeter 22 ofthe weight plate 12. The decals are preferred to be of a vinyl material,but any other generally heat resistant material may also be used. Also,it is preferred that the decal material keeps the colors on the decalfrom running.

The weight plates 12 are then covered with a clear coating 24. Thecoating protects the weight plate 12 and allows the decals 16 to beseen. Also, if the weight plate is colored, or if there is a painteddesign on the weight plate it may be seen through the clear coating.While it is preferred that the coating is clear; however, the coatingmay be translucent and colored if desired. It may also be preferred toinclude a UV protection chemical element into the polyurethane.

The coating is preferred to be polyurethane, such as that manufacturedby Anderson Development Company, Inc., Uniroyal or Airproducts. Thepolyurethane is preferably placed on the weight plate using alow-pressure polyurethane dispensing machine, such as one produced byUreflex-Baule. The urethane may alternatively be placed on the weightplates using an injection molding system, using a mold that does not usean injection system, or using a spray method directly spraying thecoating onto the weight plates. In using a mold system wherein thepolyurethane is poured directly into a mold containing the weight plateto be covered, it is preferred that the polyurethane is poured at atemperature of approximately 150-200 degrees Fahrenheit. Equivalentpolyurethane may be used which cures at a lower temperature such as roomtemperature. Either weight plates 12 may be covered simultaneously, oreach plate 12 may be covered individually.

In one embodiment a weight plate is covered with polyurethane before thehandle is attached. The weight plate 12 has a threaded internal bore anda threaded plug member having threads which extend beyond the threadingwithin the plate 12 is placed within the bore. The polyurethane is thenpoured over the weight plate 12 and at least a portion of the plugmember. When the polyurethane has cooled, the plug is removed, andthreading is left within the polyurethane extending above the threadingwithin the bore of the weight plate a threaded handle is then placedthrough the threading in the polyurethane and preferably through thethreading in the weight plate. However, other equivalent methods ofmolding the polyurethane onto the weights before the handle is attachedare known in the art.

FIG. 2 reveals a prior art dumbbell 26 without clear coating. The textwritten on the weight plates may be marred by normal use. Furthermore,if the weights were merely painted, the plates could be marked, or thecolors could rub off onto surfaces in the gymnasium.

FIG. 3 reveals an expensive design 28 painted on a dumbbell of the priorart 26. Each color of the design 28 was placed on the weight plate 26using a separate step. However, using the current invention, the designmay be placed on a decal. The decal process is much less expensive; andmore highly detailed designs may be placed on the decal. After it iscovered with polyurethane, the decal may be seen through the protectivecoating.

FIG. 4 illustrates three dumbbells, including one prior art dumbbell 26and one dumbbell embodying the present invention 10. As shown, thepainting applied to the weight plate 12 as well as decals 16 can beeseen clearly through the polyurethane coating.

FIGS. 5 and 6 reveal the finished product of the present invention. Asshown, the clear coating improves the ability to design or decorate aweight plate whether it is a traditional dark color 30 or a bright color32 underneath.

Alternatively, the steps for creating a dumbbell pursuant to the presentinvention are as follows. First the handle is selected. The handle ispreferred to be steel, and may be knurled, flats, chromed, black oxide,or be of any other useful shape or finish known in the art. Next, thedumbbell head is created. The head is preferred to be metal andmanufactured as described above. Next, the head is prepared for coating.It can be powder coated or otherwise painted, chromed or sandblasted,with or without a clear finish. Other finished known in the art may alsobe used.

In the next step, a decal, if desired, is placed on the head. The decalcan be of any desired image. The decal can be of any color or mix ofcolors, high resolution graphics or actual pictures. It may be preferredthat the image is a computer image which is placed on a decal usingknown printing techniques. If needed, the decal is then cut before it isplaced on the dumbbell head.

Next, clear polyurethane is applied to the weight with the decal asdescribed above. If necessary, the polyurethane is then trimmed afterthe dumbbell is removed from the mold.

Thus, the number of steps and the labor needed to make a design on aweight plate is minimized. Furthermore, a dumbbell is now availablehaving a high quality design which can be seen though a protectivecoating.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departure may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

1. A weight assembly for a dumbbell, comprising: a weight plate; a firstcoating applied to at least a portion of the weight plate; and an atleast partially transparent second coating applied over the firstcoating.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first coating comprisesa coloring agent.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second coatingis substantially clear, whereby the first coating is at least partiallyvisible through the second coating.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, whereinthe second coating comprises polyurethane.
 5. The assembly of claim 3,wherein the first coating is adapted to provide advertising.
 6. Theassembly of claim 5, wherein the advertising is a corporate logo.
 7. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the first coating is one or more of thefollowing: paint and powder coat.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, whereinthe second coating further comprises a UV protection chemical element.9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second coating is adapted forreceiving a dumbbell handle.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein theweight plate is adapted for receiving a dumbbell handle.
 11. A weightassembly for a dumbbell, comprising: a weight plate; a decal applied toat least a portion of the weight plate; and an at least partiallytransparent second coating applied over the decal.
 12. The assembly ofclaim 11, wherein the decal is comprised of a vinyl material.
 13. Theassembly of claim 11, wherein the second coating is substantially clear,whereby the decal is at least partially visible through the secondcoating.
 14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the second coatingcomprises polyurethane.
 15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the secondcoating is adapted for receiving a dumbbell handle.
 16. A dumbbellcomprising: a handle; and a plurality of weight assemblies, eachassembly comprising: a weight plate; a first coating applied to at leasta portion of the weight plate; and an at least partially transparentsecond coating applied over the first coating.
 17. A dumbbellcomprising: a handle; and a plurality of weight assemblies, eachassembly comprising: a weight plate; a decal applied to at least aportion of the weight plate; and an at least partially transparentsecond coating applied over the decal.
 18. A method for forming a weightassembly for a dumbbell, comprising the steps of: providing a weightplate; coating the weight plate with an at least partially transparentmaterial; providing means for attaching the coated weight plate to ahandle.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step ofapplying a decal to the weight plate before the step of coating theweight plate.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein a design is placed onthe weight plate before the step of coating the weight plate.